The Jimmy Castor Bunch

A master of novelty/disco funk, saxophonist Jimmy Castor started as a doo wop singer in New York. He wrote and recorded "I Promise to Remember" for Wing With the Juniors in 1956, a group whose roster included Al Casey Jr., Orton Graves, and Johnny Williams. Castor replaced Frankie Lymon in the Teenagers in 1957 before switching to sax in 1960. He appeared on several soul-jazz and Afro-Latin sessions and had a solo hit with "Hey Leroy, Your Mama's Callin' You" on Smash in 1966. Castor also played sax on Dave "Baby" Cortez's hit "Rinky Dink." He formed the Jimmy Castor Bunch in 1972 and signed with RCA. Their first release, It's Just Begun, launched Castor's next phase with the song "Troglodyte (Cave Man)." It was a Top Ten R&B and pop smash. Castor continued the trend in 1975 with "The Bertha Butt Boogie" and later recorded "E-Man Boogie," "King Kong," "Bom Bom," and "Amazon." The Castor band included keyboardist/trumpeter Gerry Thomas, bassist Doug Gibson, guitarist Harry Jensen, conga player Lenny Fridle Jr., and drummer Bobby Manigault. Thomas left to join the Fatback band. Castor recorded as a solo performer from 1976 until 1988. He had one of his bigger hits in many years with a 1988 revival of "Love Makes a Woman," which paired him with disco diva Joyce Sims. Castor had his own label, Long Distance, in the '80s. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide.

Discography

Most Popular albums

1972 It's Just Begun
1995 The Everything Man: The Best of the Jimmy Castor Bunch

Album

1981 Remembers Yesterday
1980 C
1977 Maximum Stimulation
1976 E Man Groovin'
1975 Super Sound
1975 Butt of Course
1973 The Everything Man
1973 Dimension III
1972 Phase Two
1972 It's Just Begun
1967 Hey Leroy

Box Set/Compilation

It's Just Begun/Phase Two
2002 16 Slabs of Funk
2000 Jimmy Castor Bunch
1995 The Everything Man: The Best of the Jimmy Castor Bunch
1995 Hey Leroy, Your Mama's Calling
1976 Best of the Jimmy Castor Bunch
Single/EP
2002 It's Just Begun/Troglodyte Cave Man
1972 Luther the Anthropoid/Party Life

Also Appears On

Original Solid Gold Hits, Vol. 2
2006 Soul Power Instrumentals
2005 Salsoul Presents: Latin Funk Flavas
2004 Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12" Masters, Vol. 2
2004 Salsoul Presents: The Salsoul Acappellas
2002 Doo Wop Underground